Sam Woolf’s Top 10 TV Shows Of 2014

8) Penny Dreadful

Of all the shows on this list, none has imperfections more numerous or glaring than Penny Dreadful. Entire characters were either misused, miscast or both, the overarching mythology that developed by the end of the first season is in shambles, and it’s entirely possible the show will crumble under the weight of its own messy bravado come Season 2. But that particular devil-may-care attitude toward normal and acceptable practices is what made Penny Dreadful such a unique treat, Frankenstein-ing together rollercoaster thrills and a haunted house collection of characters into a show unlike anything else on TV.

Part creature feature mashup, part Victorian horror show, and part stage drama, the secret to Penny Dreadful’s success was in how showrunner John Logan made sure to tether the over-the-top theatrics in acting and drama to a yen for connection as deep and dark as the pits of hell. The only thing more monstrous in size than Eva Green’s lead performance, or terrifying to behold as the show’s Grand Guignol influences was the bleeding heart of Penny Dreadful that could make it campy, exhilarating, and romantic all in the same breath.